'There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and
Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of
His disciples.'--JOHN xxi. 2.
This chapter, containing the infinitely significant and pathetic
account of our Lord's appearance to these disciples by the Sea of
Tiberias, is evidently an appendix to the Gospel of John. The design of
that Gospel is complete with the previous chapter, and there is a
formal close, as of the whole book, at the end thereof. But whilst
obviously an appendix, this chapter is as obviously the work of the
same hand as wrote the Gospel. There are many minute points of identity
between the style of it and of the rest of the work, so that there can
be no difficulty or doubt as to whence it came. This enumeration of
these seven disciples, regarded as being the work of John himself,
seems to me to be significant, and to contain a good many lessons. And
I desire to turn to these now.